Device for retaining buttons

ABSTRACT

A button is retained on a garment or the like by a pin having an enlarged head on the button being pushed into a retaining device. The retaining device is a hollow body with two orifices connected by a narrow neck, the pin head being smaller than one orifice so as to pass through it but larger than the other orifice so that by pushing the pin sideways through the neck into the second orifice, the button is retained there by engagement of the large head behind the smaller orifice. Resilience of the neck is provided by inturned flanges and by a spring so as to resist accidental removal of the button from the device.

United States Patent 1191 Febrer DEVICE FOR RETAINING BUTTONS [76] Inventor: Carlos Ricci Febrer, Calle Menendez Pelayo, 141, Barcelona, Spain [22] Filed: May 12, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 252,839

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 17, 1971 spam 169290 Nov. 25, 1971 Spain 174940 [52] US. Cl. 24/108, 24/224 LS V [51] int. Cl A44b U152 [58] Field of Search... 24/l08', 90 E, 224 SS, 211 K, 24/224 R, 224 B, 224 BW, 224 PS, 224 LS, 224 PL, 224 W, 106

1,866 11/1913 Great Britain 24/224 [451 May 7, 1974 2/1913 France I. 24/108 11/1917 Germany 24/224 LS 57] ABSTRACT A button is retained on a garment or the like by a pin having an enlarged head on the button being pushed into a retaining device. The retaining device is a hollow body with two orifices connected by a narrow neck, the pin head being smaller than one orifice so as to pass through it but larger than the other orifice so that by pushing the pin sideways through the neck into the second orifice, the button is retained there by engagement of the large head behind the smaller orifice. Resilience of the neck is provided by inturned flanges and by a spring so as to resist accidental removal of the button from the device.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 DEVICE FOR RETAINING BUTTONS BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for retaining buttons which is simple and effective.

The attaching of buttons to a garment is always a lengthy operation if it is effected by the conventional sewing method.

Furthermore, the securing of the button by thread is insecure, especially on the garment leaving the factory.

.said retaining device being intended to be utilised for buttons provided with a pointed pin as a stem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device of the present invention consists of a hollow body formed in one of its faces with two orifices of different diameter, connected by means of a neck which is narrower than the diameter of the smaller orifice. The larger orifice permits free passage of a pointed head formed by an annular throat in the free end of a pin fast with the button. The width of the throat is such that it can slide under pressure through the neck communicating with the two orifices of the device, in such manner that the head introduced through the larger orifice passes towards the orifice of smaller diameter where it is retained, since the head of the pin is larger than the latter orifice.

The edges of the neck extending from the one to the other orifice are folded or curved towards the interior of the body, thereby forming curved and resilient flanges permitting the passage under pressure of the throat preceding the pointed head.

In a preferred embodiment, there is disposed within the hollow body a resilient member comprising two arms tending to be maintained close to each other at zone located forwardly of the said neck, in such manner that the throat in the pin is required to overcome the resilience of the resilient member in order that it may pass into the smaller orifice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of one retaining device,

showing the pin head of a button separate;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hollow body of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section, showing the head introduced into the orifice of larger diameter;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the preceding one, but in which the head has passed to the smaller orifice;

FIG. 5 is a section in a plane perpendicular to that of the preceding Figure;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the interior of the body, showing the position of a spring, the pin being shown seetioned through the neck and disposed in the larger orif ice;

FIG. 7 is a similar view, but the pin is shown at the instant at which it overcomes the resilience of the spring;

and FIG. 8 is a view similar to the preceding Figure showing the pin located in the smaller orifice.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device for retaining buttons illustrated in the drawings includes a hollow body 1 formed in one face with a first orifice 2 and a second orifice 3 of smaller diameter and connected by means of a neck 4, having edges 4a folded or curved inwardly to constitute resilient flanges. The width of the neck 4 is smaller than the diameter of the smaller orifice 3. Thus, a wall of the hollow body 1 is formed with the first and second orifices 2 and 3 as well as with the slot 4 whose inwardly extending edge regions 4a form resilient flanges.

Disposed within the body I is a spring 5 having two arms 6, the ends thereof forming symmetrical inwardly flexed parts 7 which tend to draw together due to their intrinsic resilience in a zone located forwardly of the neck 4. I

The button proper is provided with a pin 8 having an annular throat (or groove) 9 and a relatively enlarged head 10.

The device as described functions in the following manner.

The pin 8 is pushed through the fabric or laminar article on which it is desired to secure thebutton, due to the pointed head 10. The said head 10 is then intro-. duced into the orifice 2 which is of a larger diameter (FIG. 3 and 6). The button is then moved sideways relative to the body I so that the head 10 travels under the neck 4 the flanges 4a of which coincide with the throat 9. On reaching the level of the portion 7 of the spring (FIG. 7), it is required to overcome the resilience thereof in order that the throat 9 can penetrate into the orifice 3 (FIGS. 4, Sand 8), from which the button cannot be accidently withdrawn, since its diameter is smaller than thatof the head I0 and, normally, the

head 10, and therefore of the button, is reliably assured.

, The shape and properties of the spring may vary as practice may require, but in every case it will have two arms tending to draw together in the zone of the neck The resilience of the spring is sufficient to ensure that passage of the throat 9 between the parts 7 is effected under a pre-determined degree of pressure, which will not necesssitate excessive force but is sufficient to prevent any subsequent accidental withdrawal.

The device described permits the mounting of buttons on garments and apparel, including footwear and other leather goods, with rapidity, thus supplementing or replacing the conventional sewing system, additionally, improving the strength afforded by the latter.

Although, in the example illustrated, the spring shown is a filiform element, it will be understood that it would be possible to adopt any other form, for example a plate having a resilient recess determining the formation of the arms which tend to draw together.

I claim:

I. A device for retaining buttons which includes a hollow'body, a first orifice formed in a wall of the hollow body, a second orifice of smaller diameter than the first orifice formed in the said wall of the hollow body,

anelongated slot formed in said wall and connecting the first orifice to the seond orifice, the slot being narrower than the diameter of the second orifice, edges of said wall of the hollow body defining the slot being curved inwardly into the hollow body and forming elongated substantially paralledl resilient flanges respectively terminating in free edges spaced from each other in the interior of the hollow body so that said resilient flanges can engage and press against a pin in a throat of the latter formed between a head on one side of the throat which is introduced first through said first orifice into the hollow interior of said body to be located finally at said second orifice which is smaller than said head after overcoming the frictional resistance of said throat with respect to said resilient flanges, a spring contained in the hollow body, two arms of the spring being disposed adjacent the slot near the second orifice, the two arms tending to draw resiliently together to restrict passage from the slot into the second orifice, whereby both the resilient flanges and the spring yieldably and resiliently resist movement of the throat between said orifices.

2. In combination, a button having a pin extending from the button, a narrow throat in the pin and a head on the pin beyond the narrow throat, together with a device for retaining the button which includes a hollow body, a first orifice formed in a wall of the hollow body, a second orifice of smaller diameter than the first orifice formed in the said wall of the hollow body, a slot formed in said wall and connecting the first orifice to the second orifice, the slot being narrower than the diameter of the second orifice, the head on-the pin being smaller than the first orifice and larger than the second orifice whereby the head passes through the first orifice, said wall having spaced parallel edge regions defining said slot and both being curved inwardly to the interior of said hollow body for forming a pair of resilient flanges spaced from each other at a distance for frictionally engaging the throat with the throat being slidable through the slot under pressure of said resilient flanges into the second orifice, and a spring contained in the hollow body and having two arms disposed adjacent the slot next to said resilient flanges for acting together with the latter on said throat for resisting movement of the latter between said orifices. 

1. A device for retaining buttons which includes a hollow body, a first orifice formed in a wall of the hollow body, a second orifice of smaller diameter than the first orifice formed in the said wall of the hollow body, an elongated slot formed in said wall and connecting the first orifice to the seond orifice, the slot being narrower than the diameter of the second orifice, edges of said wall of the hollow body defining the slot being curved inwardly into the hollow body and forming elongated substantially paralledl resilient flanges respectively terminating in free edges spaced from each other in the interior of the hollow body so that said resilient flanges can engage and press against a pin in a throat of the latter formed between a head on one side of the throat which is introduced first through said first orifice into the hollow interior of said body to be locatEd finally at said second orifice which is smaller than said head after overcoming the frictional resistance of said throat with respect to said resilient flanges, a spring contained in the hollow body, two arms of the spring being disposed adjacent the slot near the second orifice, the two arms tending to draw resiliently together to restrict passage from the slot into the second orifice, whereby both the resilient flanges and the spring yieldably and resiliently resist movement of the throat between said orifices.
 2. In combination, a button having a pin extending from the button, a narrow throat in the pin and a head on the pin beyond the narrow throat, together with a device for retaining the button which includes a hollow body, a first orifice formed in a wall of the hollow body, a second orifice of smaller diameter than the first orifice formed in the said wall of the hollow body, a slot formed in said wall and connecting the first orifice to the second orifice, the slot being narrower than the diameter of the second orifice, the head on the pin being smaller than the first orifice and larger than the second orifice whereby the head passes through the first orifice, said wall having spaced parallel edge regions defining said slot and both being curved inwardly to the interior of said hollow body for forming a pair of resilient flanges spaced from each other at a distance for frictionally engaging the throat with the throat being slidable through the slot under pressure of said resilient flanges into the second orifice, and a spring contained in the hollow body and having two arms disposed adjacent the slot next to said resilient flanges for acting together with the latter on said throat for resisting movement of the latter between said orifices. 